Gatwick have a £1.11 billion investment programme up to 2023, when they want 53 million annual passengers

Date added: June 14, 2018

After losing to Heathrow, in all probability, for the chance to build a new runway, Gatwick airport says it is planning to spend £1.11bn in a plan to “make best use of all its existing infrastructure.” It is believed that Gatwick never really wanted all the hassle of building a 2nd runway, and was only bumped into contending for the permission by the fear they would lose a lot of business, to a 3 runway Heathrow. It is widely believed that all Gatwick’s owners, GIP, want is to increase the price of the airport and sell it, when they can. Gatwick hope they can handle even more passengers than now, and they can “improve resilience and harness technology”. They are hoping to have 53 million annual passengers by 2023 – compared to 45.6 million in 2017. Their 5 year spending plan is from 2018 to 2023. They intend to spend £266m in the year 2018/19 alone. [Back in August 2017 their plan was for £1.2 billion up to 2022 …] If they spend the £1.1 billion it would mean the airport has spent £3.14bn since the airport changed ownership in December 2009, when GIP bought it for £1.5 billion. One of the projects planned, showing how keen Gatwick is to get passengers to use public transport, is adding an extra 1,200 car parking spaces by summer 2018.

I have to give credit to Gatwick for their ability to use negative news to their best advantage.

Clever packaging of a host of projects, all of which have been on the table for a while, to create the image of a successful business (which they are of course) forging ahead !

No mention – naturally – of the need for signifiant improvements in the local road infrastructure to carry the huge increase in road traffic a growth to 53m passengers will bring nor, of course, into mitigating the noise and air quality impact of flying them out.

Carbon emissions ? Doesn’t appear in the GAL dictionary!

Gatwick reveals five-year £1.1bn investment plan

By Ryan Tute (Infrastructure Intelligence.com)
13 June 2018

After looking like losing the debate to Heathrow on plans for a new runway, Gatwick Airport has unveiled a £1.11bn investment plan to “make best use of all its existing infrastructure” as it continues to operate near capacity.

Bosses at the airport say “improving resilience and harnessing technology” are central to Gatwick’s five-year plan with £266m of investment planned for 2018/19 alone. As the UK’s second largest airport, those responsible for improving capacity claim expected passenger numbers could reach 53 million by 2023. The latest injection of cash means Gatwick will have spent a total of £3.14bn since the airport changed ownership in December 2009.

The 1.11bn will support airline growth and improving experience for passengers up to 2023, while the airport says it will focus on accommodating larger aircraft and rising passenger numbers.

A whole host of projects have been announced across the airport with a significant number said to be getting underway this year.

Projects planned to improve capacity include:

Pier 6 Western Extension – Phase 1 works start with enabling Pier 5 to handle the A380 aircraft, so that it can move from its current home on Pier 6. This work will also involve the widening and reconfiguration of a taxiway to accommodate the 80-metre wingspan of the A380.

A new domestic arrivals facility, including a new baggage reclaim in South Terminal.

A new mezzanine level extension in the North Terminal departure lounge to accommodate new restaurants.

Completion of the road system and taxiway entrance to the new Boeing aircraft hangar to connect the airfield with the new facility. The new hangar opens next year and will service the growing number of long-haul aircraft operating from Gatwick.

Gatwick’s chief executive, Stewart Wingate, said: “Gatwick is a major piece of national infrastructure, and our continued growth and ability to attract long-haul airlines is vital for the health of the UK economy, particularly in a post-Brexit world. We are exploring ways to grow our capacity, including developing new systems and processes to handle more passengers, and considering how we use all our existing infrastructure in the future. By committing to spend another £1.11 billion, Gatwick can continue to grow sustainably, attract new airlines and offer more global connections, while providing an excellent service to passengers.”

Ensuring Gatwick is committed to exploring how to grow sustainably is also identified as key to any expansion. Projects to support greater use of electric vehicles, continuing to reduce the airport’s environmental impact will support ambitions to be the UK’s most sustainable airport.

Consultants selected for £1.2bn Gatwick investment programme

Jon Masters
7 August 2017

Gatwick Airport has appointed 18 consultancy firms for design and professional services in support of construction work planned for the next five years. This follows the airport’s announcement last week of a £1.2bn capital investment programme (CIP) for 2017-2022.

The CIP includes plans to reconfigure aircraft stands, the building of a new hangar in partnership with Boeing, extension of Pier 6 and the addition of a new domestic arrivals facility in Gatwick’s South Terminal. The plan takes Gatwick’s total investment plans, since change of ownership through to 2022, to £2.7bn.